Crime & Justice

'Swatting' suspect in LA faces felony charge

This 2015 booking photo released by the Glendale Police Department shows Tyler Raj Barriss. The LAPD confirmed it arrested Barriss on Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, in connection with a deadly "swatting" call in Wichita, Kan. Information from Glendale shows that in October 2015, Barriss was arrested in connection with making a bomb threat to ABC Studios in Glendale.
Glendale Police Department via AP

AP|January 3, 2018

A 25-year-old Los Angeles man suspected of making a hoax emergency call that led to the fatal police shooting of a Kansas man faces a charge of making a false alarm, according to a warrant filed Wednesday in California.

The Los Angeles County district attorney filed the fugitive-from-justice warrant against Tyler Barriss, saying he was charged with the felony Dec. 29 in Kansas.

Police have said Andrew Finch, 28, was shot after a prankster called 911 last week with a fake story about a shooting and kidnapping at Finch's Wichita home.

Barriss faced an extradition hearing later Wednesday in Los Angeles and a public defender has been appointed to represent him.

Conviction of the charge in Kansas carries a maximum sentence of up to 34 months in prison, said Elizabeth Cateforis, clinical associate professor at the University of Kansas' law school.

Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett says Kansas is pursuing extradition of Barriss, a process that can take up to 90 days.

In Kansas, the head of the Wichita police force said the department has no policy on such "swatting" calls.